“People are choosing between suicide, Switzerland or suffering.”
These are the words of Baroness Meacher, chair of Dignity in Dying, at the Parliamentary Inquiry into assisted dying just a couple of days ago. She gave powerful evidence to MPs about the devastating impact of the blanket ban on assisted dying.
Friend – this is a win for our movement. The inquiry was only launched following three years of intense campaigning led by families who have been failed by our current law, powered by incredible supporters like you.
Inquiries are often the first step to changing the law, so together we are making great strides towards a safe and compassionate assisted dying law here in the UK.
But we mustn’t stop now, Friend. This is just the start, with the Inquiry set to last several months. That means it’s vital we keep up our momentum and make sure MPs continue to listen.
Will you join Dignity in Dying as a member and provide the determined support that we need to make our campaign truly unstoppable?
Baroness Meacher’s evidence to MPs was so heartfelt and compelling because it’s based on the real experiences of thousands of terminally ill people who have bravely responded to the consultation. Here’s some of what she shared with MPs:
“These patients at the end of life are unable to swallow, to speak, to eat, to drink. They are existing, they're not living.”
“However good palliative care is, it will not be able to eliminate the unbearable suffering of many of these people.”
Baroness Meacher was joined by Lord Falconer, who described the current law as a ‘mess’ and rightly pointed out that ‘it’s time for a change’.
However, just as we’re using the Inquiry to make the case for terminally ill people to die on their own terms, our anti-choice opponents are working hard to advance their agenda to prevent dying people from having choice and control. That’s why I’m urgently asking you today:
Friend, will you become a Dignity in Dying member to power our campaigning, and make sure that the voice for compassion and choice is louder than ever?
This is a battle we must win for the hundreds of terminally ill people dreading the prospect of a painful death in the UK.
Thank you for being part of our historic fight to change the law. With our determined campaigning, terminally ill people in the future won’t have to face a dreadful choice between “suicide, Switzerland and suffering”. Instead, they will have full access to dignity, choice and control.
Sarah Wootton
Chief Executive
Dignity in Dying
P.S: Make no mistake, the Parliamentary Inquiry is an historic step on the road to law change, but we need people power to make sure that change happens. Please join Dignity in Dying as a member to create that power.
